How much does a physical scientist make in Chicago?
$121,700a year
Median yearly pay for physical scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $58.52 an hour or $10,140 a month.
- Hourly
- $58.52
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 34 of 68
- Jobs in the area
- 430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $68,310Median: $121,700Highest 10%: $170,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,310 | $32.84 | |
| 25th | $97,900 | $47.07 | |
| Median | $121,700 | $58.52 | |
| 75th | $153,200 | $73.63 | |
| 90th | $170,700 | $82.07 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for physical scientists.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $137,100 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $133,500 |
| Materials Scientist | $133,300 |
| Geoscientist | $114,000 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $112,800 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $104,600 |
| Epidemiologist | $103,800 |
| Political Scientist | $103,800 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $101,600 |
| Microbiologist | $100,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical scientist make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $58.52 ($121,700 a year).
Do physical scientists make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $121,700 against $122,600 nationally, 1% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $109,000, so Chicago pays 12% more.
Where does Chicago rank for physical scientist pay?
34 of 68 metro areas with data.
How much does a physical scientist make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $68,310 or less a year; the top 10% make $170,700 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.